25/11/2009

La Casa Azul: are absolute winners in the UK Festival Awards 2009

LA CASA AZUL won the award!! It was already big news that LA CASA AZUL were nominated for these awards; when they passed on to the second round it was incredible; but now that the winners of this prestigious competition have been published, we know that LA CASA AZUL has been awarded “Virtual Festivals Critics' Choice Award”, beating out artists like PET SHOP BOYS, THE SPECIALS, Thom Yorke, Carl Cox, THE PRODIGY and ALABAMA 3 in the fight for this prize. It is a landmark and a point of pride for independent music in in our country.

The UK Festival Awards are the Oscars of the music Festival industry in England; they are the only awards dedicated to recognizing and rewarding the colossal human effort that goes into creating the most important festival scene in the world. Established in 2004 and organized by Virtualfestivals.com (the number one website worldwide about music festivals), the new edition of the UK Festival Awards was celebrated live this past Thurdsay, November 19th in London in a ceremony that, in addition to the “Virtual Festivals Critics' Choice Award” that LA CASA AZUL won, 20 more prizes were awarded, like BLUR's award for best headliner; Glasonbury for best festival and KINGS OF LEON who won the award for Anthem of the Summer for “Sex on Fire”.

LA CASA AZUL participated in the English festival Indietracks this past July and thanks to their impressive scenery, the special charm that Guille gives off during live performances, and the great party the audience gave, LA CASA AZUL achieved this well-deserved award, which more than confirms their talent and professionalism of the team that carried half of Spain with them in their live tour for "La Revolucion Sexual" and that culminated precisely in this last performance in England.

Congratulations Guille, the whole live team and of course thanks to all the fans and followers of the group.

This is a truly exciting and happy moment, and a reward for a job well done.

 

THE STARS TALK ABOUT AWARDS:

"To tell the truth I’m not really into awards and those things, but this specific award makes me really happy for a lot of different reasons: because the weekend celebrating the anniversary of my favorite record label at INDIETRACKS, my favorite festival, was incredible; because it was our first live show in the UK and that made us especially nervous; because it shows that today’s festivals are open to all kinds of ideas, not just guitars and traditional rhythms anymore; and because for me, who had never really considered live shows, and even less festivals, to be something fun, it turns out that I have to believe that LA CASA AZUL’s live shows really do something after all. But above all else, do you know what the most exciting part is for me? That it proves that taking a bunch of friends (Gregorio, Xavier y Lluís) on tour can work out just as well as taking a professional team. And that’s much more than anyone can hope to have."
Guille Milkyway, LA CASA AZUL

"These awards are a great way to get feedback from the people that matter - live music fans. It's a bit of fun certainly, but who does not welcome recognition? And for those that win prizes, it is a wonderful acknowledgement of all the hard work that is put in by so many people to make a festival successful.”
Michael Eavis, Glastonbury Festival

"We were thrilled to win the UK Festival Award for 'Best Live Act'. It was great to win an award that says you're good at festivals. The live side to this band has always been really important, even from very early days, and it's always great getting that respect from the people that matter."
Matt Bellamy, MUSE

“It’s about time the UK festival scene had an awards show so we can all pat each other on the back and get drunk - but seriously there are so many exciting festivals and ideas out there to congratulate and this the first awards to do just that”
Rob da Bank, Festival

“These awards are a fantastic and important addition to the awards calendar as they are the only ones dedicated to recognising the hard work and effort that goes into producing so many incredible outdoor live music events in the UK.” Geoff Ellis, T in the Park.

"It’s an honour and a privilege to be sitting alongside an amazing line-up of Britain’s (and many will agree, the world’s) best music festivals in these categories.”
Bob Angus, V Festival Director

“The coveted UK Festival Awards not only recognise what great events we have in this country but firmly puts the UK on the global map as leaders in their field when it comes to outdoor events. The number of people that have voted this year proves this and the fact that these awards are voted for by the people who attend our events makes them very special.”
James Barton, Creamfields
 

La Casa azul [UK Festival awards 2009]
picture: UK Festival awards 2009